Viral MIPα homologous with human MIP-1α acts on HIV co-receptor CCR5

The function and usage of vMIPα encoded by K6 gene of herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) which has homology with human macrophage protein (MIP) have not been clearly known. In the present note the K6 gene of HHV8 was cloned and transfected into NIH3T3 cells and E. coli cells. Conditional media from the 3T3-transfected cells and K6 product vMIPa from E. coli. Cells were used to perform the experiments of ligand-receptor binding and cellular adhesion with peripheral blood macrophages. The conditional media and the purified vMIPa from E. coli could compete to bind to CCR5 located on macrophages from peripheral blood with I125-hMIP-1α chemokine of human. Cellular adhesion showed that the conditional media from transfected cells and the purified vMIPa did not induce the adhesion of macrophages from peripheral blood to ICAM-1. In conclusion, vMIPα encoded by K6 gene of HHV8 can bind to CCR5 of peripheral blood macrophage cells and does not induce their adhesion. This suggests that vMIPa enclosed CCR5, also known as HIV

The function and usage of vMIPα encoded by K6 gene of herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) which has homology with human macrophage protein (MIP) have not been clearly known. In the present note the K6 gene of HHV8 was cloned and transfected into NIH3T3 cells andE. coli cells. Conditional media from the 3T3-transfected cells and K6 product vMIPα fromE. coli. Cells were used to perform the experiments of ligand-receptor binding and cellular adhesion with peripheral blood macrophages. The conditional media and the purified vMIPα fromE. coli could compete to bind to CCR5 located on macrophages from peripheral blood with I125-hMIP-1α chemokine of human. Cellular adhesion showed that the conditional media from transfected cells and the purified vMIPα did not induce the adhesion of macrophages from peripheral blood to ICAM-1. In conclusion, vMIPα encoded by K6 gene of HHV8 can bind to CCR5 of peripheral blood macrophage cells and does not induce their adhesion. This suggests that vMIPα enclosed CCR5, also known as HIV co-receptor, may be used to prevent and treat HIV infection.